Year: 12th 

SAE: 

Years in FFA: 

FFA involvement:

Fav FFA events: 

Skills learned:

Plans for after HS:

Year: 12th

SAE: 

Years in FFA: 4

FFA involvement: 

Fav FFA events: 

Skills learned: 

Plans for after HS:

Year: 12th

SAE: Animal Care

Years in FFA: 4

FFA involvement: World Dairy Expo, CDE's (Wildlife, Livestock Evaluation, Veterinary Science), LDEs (Discussion, Quiz Bowl), Farm Forum, Notional Convention, State Convention, FFA Banquet, Midwest Horse Fair, and Ag Day.

Fav FFA events: CDEs, State Convention, and Ag Day

Skills learned: Leadership, livestock evaluation, Wildlife Evaluation, Veterinary Science, and Discussion.

Plans for after HS: Pursuing Veterinary Science

Year: 11th

SAE: Horses

Years in FFA: 2

FFA involvement: Veterinary Science CDE, Ag Day, FFA Banquet, World Dairy Expo, Midwest Horse Fair.

Fav FFA events: Ag Day, Midwest Horse Fair, World Dairy Expo.

Skills learned: Leadership, Veterinary Science, and Horse Evaluation.

Plans for after HS: Undecided

Year: Junior

SAE: Agriculture Education 

Years in FFA: 3

FFA involvement: Horse Evaluation and Vet Science CDE, State FFA Band Member, Agriculture Education SAE, State and National FFA Conventions

Fav FFA events: Banquet, Officer Retreat 

Skills learned: Leadership, Organization, Structure, Public Speaking 

Plans for after HS: Undecided 

My name is Jason Hovell, and I am excited to help our Holmen FFA members experience premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through their participation in FFA! 

At Holmen High School, I teach subjects of Ag Mechanics/Small Engines, Electricity & Electronics, Robotics, and Introduction to Tech Ed. 

Prior to the 2021-22 school year, I taught ag education classes and served as an FFA advisor for 16 years in the Independence and Marion School Districts, teaching everything from Plant & Soil Science, Animal Science, Ag Mechanics, Food Science & Processing, Landscape Design & Construction, Aquaculture, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Metal Fabrications, & more!

In high school, I was a member of the G-E-T FFA Chapter and participated in Wildlife, Forestry, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Ag Mechanics, and Soil & Land Judging CDE Teams, along with being involved with my chapter's parliamentary procedure team.

My SAE's included raising 400 rainbow trout/year in a pond/raceway system on the home farm, raising beef cattle, and working at local apple orchard, which all really opened my eyes as to how diverse our agriculture industry is. It was because of these experiences I have devoted my life helping middle school and high school students find their niche in the agriculture industry, and find career success! 

Outside of the school day, I stay connected to agriculture running a web-based agribusiness producing naturally-grown garlic on the family farm. My farm business is one of Wisconsin's largest producers of gourmet garlic, and ship my product to all 50 states, which keeps me busy in the summer months. It is through this endeavor I have come to understand what E.M. Tiffany was referring to in finding satisfaction and importance of "producing and marketing the product of our toil" in the 3rd paragraph of the FFA Creed.

I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities available to you in the FFA organization, and how adults and businesses in the Holmen School District can be advocates for agricultural education and support the local FFA chapter. The FFA is the best experience I have been a part of, and it will be for you too if you take that first step and get involved! 

Just as we read in the third paragraph of the FFA Creed by E.M. Tiffany "I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others..." 

We strive to live by these words as we lead our chapter toward success.